Saudi, 15-hr flight and a French plane: Zelenskyy makes dramatic Japan appearance for G-7 summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a dramatic appearance in Japan to attend the G-7 summit to join leaders of major democracies to present a unified front against both Russia and China.

Dressed in his trademark military-themed clothing, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a headline-grabbing entrance as he touched down on board a French government plane in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

“Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and enhanced cooperation for our victory. Peace will become closer today,” he tweeted moments after arriving before heading to a dizzying round of bilateral meetings with leaders at the summit.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy used a French government-labelled military aircraft to reach the summit venue.

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, some of Emmanuel Macron’s allies have become angry and suspicious of his diplomatic efforts, even though France has been providing significant military and financial assistance to Ukraine.

However, on Friday, as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrived in Jeddah to address the Arab League, the presence of the French Airbus adorned with the tricolour flag marked a notable accomplishment for Macron, reported Reuters.

ZELENSKYY BROUGHT BY FRENCH ARMY
French officials stated that the plan to bring the Ukrainian leader to the G7 summit was being developed for several weeks, following initial discussions with the Japanese hosts regarding the list of attendees, Reuters reported. The decision to transport President Zelenskyy using the French army was made on Wednesday, according to a French presidential official.

The Ukrainian delegation was reportedly picked up from the Polish border and subsequently embarked on a four-hour flight to Jeddah. This journey was part of President Zelenskyy’s broader efforts to engage with countries that have maintained a neutral stance in the conflict.

A second French official noted that this opportunity provided President Zelenskyy with a chance to articulate his position to countries with whom he typically does not engage in direct discussions.

Prior to his bilateral meeting with Macron in Hiroshima, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to France and mentioned receiving “positive signals” from Arab states without providing further details.

Zelenskyy’s personal appearance was meant to galvanize global attention as the nations ratcheted up pressure on Moscow for its 15-month invasion of Ukraine.

15-HOUR FLIGHT JOURNEY FROM SAUDI TO JAPAN
One of the officials who accompanied the Ukrainian delegation on the plane observed their noticeable fatigue and took advantage of the 15-hour flight from Saudi Arabia to Japan, including crossing Chinese airspace, to catch up on sleep.

However, the official mentioned that Zelenskyy had called upon his diplomatic and military teams multiple times to strategize on how to navigate the varying dynamics and perspectives of their potential counterparts regarding the war. The objective, as stated by French officials, was to influence their positions.

This was not the first instance of France extending its aviation support. According to the French officials, a Falcon jet from the French government had transported Zelenskyy from Brussels to Poland in February following a summit of European heads of state.

After his meeting with Zelenskyy, Macron took to Twitter and announced, “A plane bearing the colors of the French Republic has landed in Hiroshima. Accompanied by the Ukrainian delegation, they have come to the G7 to collaborate with us and our partners, working towards Ukraine’s triumph and the restoration of peace in Europe.”

Bolstering international support is a key priority as Ukraine prepares for what’s seen as a major push to take back territory seized by Russia in the war that began in February last year.

Zelenskyy’s in-person visit to the G7 summit comes just hours after the United States agreed to allow training on potent American-made fighter jets, laying the groundwork for their eventual transfer to Ukraine.